Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in health, religion and marriage.

The population passed 97,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Great Yarmouth increased by 7.1%, from just over 90,800 to 97,300.

The addition of almost 6,500 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Great Yarmouth was home to, on average, 4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Health improved

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's well-being.

The percentage of Great Yarmouth residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% in 2001 to 7.1% in 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (76%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 63% in 2001. The percentage of Great Yarmouth residents that described their health as fair decreased from 26% to 17%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Great Yarmouth decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Great Yarmouth, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Great Yarmouth

The number of people in Great Yarmouth that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 15,000 in 2001 to just over 29,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 30% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Great Yarmouth that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 68,000 in 2001 to about 59,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 61%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 7,200 to about 7,000 (from 7.9% to 7.2%).

About 520 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from about 280 in 2001 (0.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Great Yarmouth increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Great Yarmouth by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Great Yarmouth

This area saw Eastof England's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Across the region, only Welwyn Hatfield (from 31% to 39%) and Norwich (from 40% to 47%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 27% to 31%.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) people aged 16 and over in Great Yarmouth said they were single, compared with 25% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 52% to 47%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

This area saw Eastof England's third-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Across the region, only King's Lynn and West Norfolk (from 2.5% to 3.3%) and Tendring (from 2.8% to 3.5%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 1.8% to 2.2%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.4%) in Great Yarmouth reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.7% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.2% to 1.6%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Great Yarmouth remained close to 3.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Great Yarmouth by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in home ownership

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in Great Yarmouth at a faster rate than in nearby Broadland.

In Great Yarmouth, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 70% in 2001 to 64% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Broadland decreased from 83% to 79%.

Across Eastof England, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 72% to 68%.

Private renting in Great Yarmouth increased from 9.4% to 16%, while the rate of social housing decreased from 18% to 17%.

The rate of home ownership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links